Ridgecrest kid makes good as newest sworn officer

Patrick Harlow was sworn in as the Ridgecrest Police Department's newest officer on Wednesday before his family and friends.

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By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Sep. 12, 2013 at 4:45 PM

By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Sep. 12, 2013 at 4:45 PM

Patrick Harlow was sworn in as the Ridgecrest Police Department's newest officer on Wednesday before his family and friends. Harlow is the second local to come back to serve in the area. Local Shane Joseph was sworn in Aug. 28.

Many officers and detectives who could, showed up for the swearing in ceremony including many of Harlow's family and friends as well as RPD Chief Ronald Strand and City Clerk Rachel Ford. Ford is responsible for swearing in new City of Ridgecrest employees.

Harlow was born in Ridgecrest and graduated from the Riverside County Sheriff's Academy in August. He has worked as a network technician and has completed 96 units in administrative justice. He likes to hike and stay in shape with cross fit. He stated that his interest in law enforcement is to help the community and make a difference where he lives.

The RPD said in a press release that it wanted to thank Harlow's family for coming out and supporting him and their continued support of Harlow throughout his law enforcement career.

"Law enforcement has many demands both on and off-duty and the hours can be demanding," the RPD stated.

As a tradition at the RPD, the officer gets to choose who pins their badge for the first time, Strand explained. Harlow picked his wife Jessica to pin his badge. He told Strand that while he was very thankful to have the opportunity, he wanted to thank his wife for standing by him during the six months of training and asked her to do the honors.

"Good choice," Strand said.

"I'm very excited to get started," Harlow said after getting pinned. "I've waiting for this for a very long time."

He said he wasn't one for speeches but we said he wanted to thank his family, "for standing by me."